St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-06-04
CYCLONES CALMLY CONSIDERED.
A Few Desultory Remarks on These Ener-
getic Beasts.

There is very little repose about cyclones.
Men always seem to be in hurry as though
they had a note to meet. or were anxious to
get to the baseball grounds before the game
began.
They never have time to stop and shake
hands with a man; instead Of that they
shake the whole individual and everything
thing else within reach; not only shake
them, but take them along.
Cyclones are no respeCterS of persons.
They would as lief hurry phenomenal
pitcher through the armament as a member
OF Congress; Vanderbilt as a tramp
They are among the most energetic and
self-assertive productions of this energy pro-
ducing country.
Gazing at cyclones from a strictly I'm
partisan standpoint, it seems to me strange
that in the United States, where energy is so
generally admired, they should be so Rl-
popular.
For that cyclones are unpopular is an adj
nlitted fact.
There is not a more friendless thing in the
world than cyclone. Even when weary
with long run across a particularly difficult
piece Of country, no man would think of in
viting cyclone to step into his house and
take cup of tea to refresh itself The aver
age citizen would rather have it pass by on
the other side; and this average citizen
aforesaid never feels sighted if a Cyclone
on its travels ignores his farm, and traverses
instead the fertile fields of his neighbor.
No asylum for WORKOUT cyclones has yet
been established, neither has any phiIan-
thropist ever thought of endowing hospital
for their benefit.
Rather then encourage cyclones to prowl
in his vicinity, a man will even resort to
subterfuge to distract their attention and
induce them to vacate the premises.
A man in Kansas did this once.
The subterfuge he resorted to was plain.
unassuming board but from the account it
did its duty nobly.
The kansan saw the cyclone coming along
at light jog of about 1134 miles an hour,
with the apparent intention of butting
against brand new-barn. As the paint on
this building was hardly dry, the man did
not want any of it to rub off by colliding
with an adult cyclone. So he took the
board and held it firmly on the ground
so that the cyclone would strike its
SNSS' ILLS Aitlu tiS ClleCt u SpllIC1ng
the cyclone down the front, and so
thoroughly discouraging it that it forgot
its business in that part of the country. and
left in disorder for Canada. The casualties
on the side of the board were immaterial.
This method is a better one than putting
salt on the cyclones tail, which, l under
stand, has been tried in some places with a
lack of success. I hope to hear
OF the universal adoption of the Kansan's
method of boarding a cyclone 1t is cheaper
and more satisfactory in every way than the
old method of climbing on and going along.
In some parts of the cyclone belt pits are
dug, but never heard of a full grown speci-
men being caught in one. am inclined to
think the cyclone pit failure as means of
capture.
Some cyclones come to this country from
the western portion of British America.
This should not be permitted. Further
mportations should be stopped by clapping
on prohibitive tariff. The home SUNNY il
already in excess of the demand. and we
don't want our infant cyclone industry in
ertered with, to say nothing about its
being crippled by having to compete with
cyclones.
VIM. III. SIyITER.